French Government Acquires Major US Government Security Contractor - Paris Now OWNS You!

France’s Safran completed a $1 billion purchase of U.S. face-recognition software maker L-1 Identity Solutions after hiring a top former U.S.
intelligence official to allay security concerns. Safran received approval for its purchase from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US
(CFIUS).

The $1 billion cash deal gives the French state-owned company control of a Connecticut company which specializes in biometric recognition
systems, passports and finger-printing as well as background checks for public and private clients.

ADDENDUM:
Evidently the phrase "French state-owned" company that I used above gave the impression that Safran is a "private" company. What the phrase means is
that Safran is majority owned by the French Government. Some reports reveal that the ownership by the French Government is as high as 90%. The
seat of the French government is in Paris - hence the title.

So L-1 Identity Solutions was bought by the French Government.

L-1’s secure credentialing solution has been used to produce more than two billion government-issued IDs to date. These include driver’s
licenses, passports and Visas, the U.S. Passport Card and Border Crossing Card, international voter registration and national ID cards, as well as the
production platform for the U.S. DOD Common Access Card (CAC). And they maintain the databases.

I hate to think that I am alone in thinking this is a Major problem...

edit on 2-8-2011 by webworker because: clarification of ownership of
Safran

Perhaps it's time Congress do something for a living that involves the benefit of our nation for a change. I'm starting to think we really need this
in Federal Law that foreign companies are not used, ever, for supply of national security sensitive parts and material. I could have sworn this was
accepted as a given until a few decades ago when this global village silliness began taking hold.

If these systems fail at the most critical moment or are disabled by something we didn't even know existed as an option, then we have ourselves to
blame for allowing our security to depend upon others who won't be affected if that security fails IMHO.

Since you are in the UK it probably doesn't apply. If you read the entire linked article you will see why it firmly applies to Americans. "Owned" is a
term used by hackers to declare that they have your data and that is definitely the case here.

Originally posted by Misterlondon
Exactly how does the sale of an American company to a French one.. Mean that Paris owns me? Or anyone on the planet for that matter..

Maybe you should get a Job with the sun newspaper.. I think you would fit right in..

Buah, exactly my thoughts...

I would speculate that this change of hands IS bad news for us though. Does the US even have laws that protects us from invasive biometric technology?
If we do, that no longer matters because the company now answers to French govt. not ours....

Since you are in the UK it probably doesn't apply. If you read the entire linked article you will see why it firmly applies to Americans. "Owned"
is a term used by hackers to declare that they have your data and that is definitely the case here.

Ok.. Maybe it was a little harsh, I do apologize for my last comment. it is a bit annoying when people use a big sensational title and usually turns
out to be bs.. Just like the tabloids hence one was mentioned.
To much of that goes on here.. That was my motivation.

I understand your explanation but at the same time it is still a sensational title, also it's not just Americans that use this site and it is a tad
ignorant to assume only Americans will read your thread and even worse to aim them solely at Americans.. So maybe that should have been stipulated in
the title.

I hope you take no offense from my comments here because I'm not having a dig at you.. I'm just saying..

Thanks for the follow-up and clarification. I appreciate and understand where you are coming from. I was just trying to figure a way to bring
attention to what I think is an important, under-reported story to of as many folks as possible. Structuring the title to attract attention and rise
above the chatter was my intention.

Originally posted by webworker
...
ADDENDUM:
Evidently the phrase "French state-owned" company that I used above gave the impression that Safran is a "private" company. What the phrase means
is that Safran is majority owned by the French Government. Some reports reveal that the ownership by the French Government is as high as 90%.
The seat of the French government is in Paris - hence the title.
...

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